A new podcast about Rickwood Field, called “Road to Rickwood,” will explore the history of the Negro Leagues in Birmingham with Roy Wood Jr. hosting the new narrative series from National Public Radio and Major League Baseball.

The Birmingham-raised comedian has interviewed people all across the city who grew up going to Rickwood Field, played there as part of the Black Barons baseball team, or felt the impact of the legendary baseball stadium.

Listen to the “Road to Rickwood” trailer below.

Rick Woodward III and Bob Woodward, the grandsons of Allen “Rick” Woodward, the constructor and original owner of Rickwood Field, met with Wood to discuss their memories of going to baseball games at the historic stadium with their grandfather. During the interview, Bob Woodward said he remembers the first integrated game at Rickwood.

“The first integrated game that I saw was an exhibition game with the Atlanta Braves,” he told Wood. “And I can’t remember who the player was, but he hit a home run, and as he was running around the bases, all I could think about was that guy is nothing but legs!”

Wood also met former Black Barons players Bill Greason and Al Holt. However, the tone of the interview with Greason was different than that of the Woodward brothers.

“Yeah, it would be an honor to see the game if they put something in my hand…I’m not going for free,” Greason said. “They’re going to use me to help bring others in. That’s the way it’s always been.”

Wood said the podcast is important because the Black Barons are a significant part of the Civil Rights Movement.

“It’s an opportunity to tell a story about a place that’s still standing, that is as sacred now as it was back then. I hope people take away from this podcast, some degree of understanding about places where racism took a pause for a game of baseball,” Wood said.

The podcast, launching May 28, will amplify the link between the struggle for equality and America’s pastime, and how Birmingham played a pivotal role in that story. It will show that progress is not always linear and argue that in a time of racial tension and hatred, Rickwood Field sometimes reinforced racial barriers, and other times served as an equalizer, making it a mysterious paradox in American history.

The series will also look at efforts to grow the game of baseball today, like current barriers Birmingham ballplayers face when it comes to adequate parks and access to equipment, while also reminding listeners about the depth of Birmingham’s baseball history.

Wood also interviewed Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin about the city’s relationship with Major League Baseball.

“Since 2018 or 2019, there’s been an intentional conversation with Major League Baseball just about relationship, partnership, exposure for the city of Birmingham, how to engage our youth, and provide opportunity,” Woodfin said.

The upcoming “MLB at Rickwood” game will see the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants compete on June 20, the day after Juneteenth. There will be activities during the week that lead up to the game as part of a tribute to the Negro Leagues and its greatest living player – Hall of Famer, Giants legend, Alabama native and Birmingham Black Barons player Willie Mays.

The podcast is a collaborative effort from WWNO and WRKF. Distributed by the NPR network in partnership with support from Major League Baseball, and AL.com. The four-part series will release weekly starting May 28.